SOFIA FUND – TANZANIA

What is the Sofia Fund?

The Sofia Fund is a project of the Tanzanian Grail that provides a home and formal education for young girls from a local Maasai community at the request of their parents.

A Visit to Chekechea –By Marian April Goering, US Grail member

Last December and again in July, I visited the Grail in Kisekibaha and was fascinated and moved to see their activity and progress.

Since 2003, Honorata Mvungi and other Grail members had been doing outreach in Maasai villages with the focus to reduce incidence of female genital mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence.  Eventually, parents who agreed not to circumcise their daughters explained that they could not could keep them safe in the village and asked the Grail to care for them.

Beginning with just five little girls in 2012, the project has now grown to 40 primary school girls, living in a compound called Chekechea next to the Grail Kisekibaha.  Feliciana Kulaya, a Grail member and trained Montessori teacher, does an amazing work as a housemother.  She understands child development, and her love for the girls absolutely shines!  She is warm and caring, but also strong and practical.  She expects every girl to grow, achieve, and succeed.  And she advocates, even fights, to ensure they have that opportunity.

During my visits, the girls showed me their activities. They are responsible for keeping their dormitories clean and to sweep the common spaces. Feliciana has established a pattern with older girls helping younger ones with bathing, washing clothes, and other chores. They also have a garden with greens and vegetables for their food. Feliciana buys some basic foods in the market each week, but the girls contribute a lot through their own effort. They come over to the Grail compound many days to get milk from the cows kept here.

In addition, the girls take care of chickens and rabbits, which they keep for food. (Some years ago, US Grail friends raised money to initiate the rabbit project.) The girls walk to the local primary school less than a mile away, and on the way home, they often cut greens for the rabbits. So, they come back from school with homework and rabbit food.

Some parents are able to give something to the Chekechea for their daughter’s care, but it is never enough. For example, while I was visiting, two families gave a sheep to feed the girls in thanks for the care their daughters had received. Parents are also welcome to visit, and many girls visit their families during school vacation.

Since 2013, US Grail members and friends have contributed to the Sofia Fund to support the work that our Tanzanian Grail sisters are doing with limited resources, determination, and incredible heart. It costs a bit less than $8,000 per year to run this important and amazing project, or less than $200 for each Chekechea girl!

But Chekechea success has led to an additional need. We have come to understand that we must expand our support to include the Maasai girls who are now in secondary schools. Primary school is not enough in modern society, and Feliciana seeks secondary or training schools for every girl. Important because Maasai girls who don’t continue in school are likely to be married off at young ages by their fathers. Secondary school tuition, room, and board costs about $1,200 to $1,400 per year. Currently, there are 19 Chekechea girls in secondary school, some with scholarships or sponsors. And 7 more girls have just finished primary school and will go on to secondary school in January.

Please consider how you can help by sending a Sofia Fund contribution through the Grail National Office website:  DONATE

• Please indicate if you prefer your Sofia Fund contribution is for primary or secondary school girls in the text box as you checkout.